Sub-flooring assembly and method

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a sub-flooring assembly. The disclosed assembly includes at least two rectangular sections. Each of the sections have first and second ends and first and second sides. A male component extends outwardly from the first end of each of the sections. The male component has a flange proximate a free end thereof. An opening is disposed on the second end of each of the sections. The opening extends into the section to form a cavity. A pocket is formed in the cavity. The flange of one of the sections is removably received in the pocket of another of the sections for detachably securing the first end of one of the sections to the second end of another of the sections.

1. A flooring assembly, comprising:
 at least three rectangular sections, each of said sections including a first locking mechanism on opposite ends thereof and a second locking mechanism on opposite sides thereof; 
 wherein said first locking mechanism comprises:
 a male component extending outwardly from a first end of each of said sections, said male component having a stem attached to said first end and a flange attached to a distal end of said stem, said stem having a width less than a width of said flange; 
 an elongated cavity disposed in a second end of each of said sections; 
 a pocket formed in an end of said cavity; 
 an opening disposed on said second end of each of said sections, said opening extending into said cavity, said flange of one of said sections receivable in said cavity of another of said sections through said opening when said sides of said sections are offset so that said first end of one of said sections abuts and is parallel to said second end of the other of said sections, and a tip of said flange is laterally slidable from said cavity into said pocket as said abutting ends laterally slide against each other until said sides of said sections are aligned, thereby detachably securing said abutting ends of said sections; and 
 
 wherein said second locking mechanism comprises:
 a first slot disposed on a first side of each of said sections, said first slot extending into a cam chamber; 
 a second slot disposed on a second side of each of said sections; 
 a cylindrical cam lock disposed within said cam chamber, a portion of said cam lock rotatably moveable through said first slot of one of said sections and into and securable within said second slot of another of said sections when said sides of said sections are abutting each other, thereby detachably securing said abutting sides of said sections. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The flooring assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of spaced slots formed in the respective first and second sides of each of said sections, each of said slots extending substantially perpendicular to the respective first and second sides, 
 a brace having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion receivable in said slot formed in said first side of one of said sections and said second portion receivable in said slot formed in said second side of another adjacently disposed and abutting section. 
 
     
     
       3. The flooring assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said brace is a rectangular metal bar. 
     
     
       4. The flooring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said male component is T-shaped in cross-section. 
     
     
       5. The flooring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said tip of said flange includes angled sides. 
     
     
       6. The flooring assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said pocket includes angled walls complimentarily configured to said angled sides of said tip so that said tip fits snugly within said pocket. 
     
     
       7. The flooring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said cavity includes a plurality of spaced ridges, said flange laterally slidable against said ridges. 
     
     
       8. The flooring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said sections includes a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface being substantially planar. 
     
     
       9. The flooring assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said bottom surface includes a plurality of support struts, said ends and said sides having a first height, and said support struts having a second height no greater than said first height. 
     
     
       10. The flooring assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said support struts form one of a honeycomb pattern and a grid pattern. 
     
     
       11. The flooring assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a well formed in each corner of said bottom surface. 
     
     
       12. The flooring assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of legs, each of said legs receivable in a corresponding one of said wells. 
     
     
       13. The flooring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said sections includes at least two of said earn locks and corresponding chambers and slots. 
     
     
       14. The flooring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said sections are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of a high performance thermoplastic (HTP) structural foam resin, a fiberglass reinforced polymer composite, and a lightweight metal. 
     
     
       15. The flooring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said sections further comprises a rigid insert extending outwardly from said first side thereof, and a receiver channel extending into said second side thereof, said rigid insert of one of said sections received in said receiver channel of an adjacently disposed and abutting another of said sections.